ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pop — music
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. net — for catching
  5. pop — soda
  6. charge — in control
  7. lie — to recline
  8. prune — to trim
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. prune — to trim
  12. rash — hasty
  13. rash — a series
  14. net — after costs
  15. net — in sport
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. pop — to visit
  18. pass — a permit
  19. charge — a price
  20. pitch — completely
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. charge — electricity
  24. pitch — a sports field

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com